Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 4
Trend:
The heads of delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the US Secretary of State John Kerry, and the French State Secretary for European Affairs Harlem Desir - remain strongly committed to a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, according to their joint statement posted on OSCE website Dec. 4.
"There is no military solution, and we call on the sides to refrain from violence and work actively towards a lasting settlement," the statement said.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries' delegation heads expressed regret on the upsurge in violence this year along the line of contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.
"Military actions in July and August resulted in a significant loss of life, raised tensions and deepened mistrust between the sides," the statement said.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries' delegation heads also noted that the sides must take additional actions to reinforce the ceasefire of 1994 and create a more favorable atmosphere for advancing peace talks.
"The November 12 downing of a military helicopter along the line of contact was an avoidable tragedy that underscored the importance of measures by the sides to reduce tensions, restore trust, and avoid future incidents. We appeal to all sides to demonstrate restraint to prevent further escalation. We also call on them to settle humanitarian issues in the spirit of the Astrakhan statement of October 2010 of the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation," the statement said.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries' delegation heads also said that the three meetings between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2014 at Sochi, Newport and Paris revitalized the most important channel of communication between the sides.
"We welcome the agreement by the presidents in Paris to intensify dialogue in the coming year," the statement said.
The statement also said that it is time for the sides to overcome disagreements, restore confidence, and honour their commitment to enter into a negotiating process that can result in a settlement.
"They are expected to acknowledge that the basis for a comprehensive settlement is the elements and principles outlined in the joint statements by the presidents of Russia, the United States, and France, especially those that were discussed during the last summit in Paris," according to the statement.
The statement further said that the negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement under the auspices of the co-chair countries should begin as soon as possible.
"We remain ready to work closely with the sides to reach a lasting settlement and open a new chapter of peace, but stress that the primary responsibility to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict rests with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan," the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries' delegation heads stressed.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.